K-POP girl group EXID taking on 2018!

EXID is a girl group that got their start in February 2012 with the single “Whoz that Girl.” However, they did not gain popularity until a live recording of their single “Up&Down” went viral in 2014. They went on to release their first album, Street, in 2016. Following the album’s release, it was announced that one of the members, Solji, had to go on hiatus after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Yet, with the release of the mini album, Full Moon, on November 7th, 2017, Solji was able to start helping with the recording process again. EXID currently monthly releases remastered versions of b-side tracks from their old albums as a part of their “Re:Flower” project. Their latest installment was a remake of the track “Will You Take Me” from the album Street, which was released on February 12th, 2018.

Boy Group with Limitless Potential Debuts

BLACK6IX debuted with the song “Please” in April 2017 with their first teasers dropping in March, 2017. Seoul Journal interview the six members of the boy group, formed under Black Hole Entertainment: TaeYoung, The King, Yey, YongSeok, Jong-woon, and Ziki.

Fashion is not just about clothes

Creative director of pushBUTTON, Seung Gun Park, introduced the brand in 2003 as a young up-and-coming designer. Since its launch, pushBUTTON, who heavily draws influences from 80s fashion, has established itself as one of South Korea’s premier brands. Park prides his work as a gender-neutral fashion line and continues to push the boundaries by creating no boundaries to his collection. Seoul Journal had a chance to talk with Seung Gun Park to dive deeper into his creative process.

Jo Dong-rim, better known as Mad Clown, is most recognizable for his sharp and high-tone rapping. He worked with South Korean singer Soyou on the song "Stupid in Love" and was featured on "Anxious" by Melody Day. His song "Fire" went to number one on the Gaon Music Chart, and he was a judge on the popular rap reality show "Show Me the Money's" fifth season and "High School Rapper." Seoul Journal discussed his career and future plans with Jo Dong-rim.

After being closed to the public for 50 years, the West Seoul Lake Park, or Seoseoul Lake Park (서서울호수공원), reopened in October of 2009.In the name of ecology and beautification, the park reclaimed the Sinwol Water Purification Plant, which was transformed under the themes of “water” and “recycling”; some of the existing piping and filtering tanks were reused so that they are now sculptures and benches in this beautifully landscaped park. The West Seoul Lake Park is truly breathtaking, and for those out there who enjoy the addition of industrial paths that weave through a natural setting as if climbing through a forgotten land, this park is a must-visit while in Seoul.

Sometimes the hustle and bustle, noise and chaotic surroundings of Seoul can become a bit too much to handle, and a quick getaway becomes necessary to maintain sanity. During the summer, the humidity can be so intense in the city that taking a walk is more like swimming through hot, heavy air, and the only cure to really get that deep breath is to find a breezy coast and calming ocean tide sounds. Taean-gun (태안군) is a perfect place for a weekend getaway during a weekend in any season.

Building a Global Community

Ambassador Oh Joon is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations. His most recent role at the U.N. was President of the Economic and Social Council, which he served from 2015 to 2016.He currently serves as the President of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Having begun his career fresh out of university at the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Oh has served as a diplomat both within South Korea and around the world. Working as a senior member of the Korean Foreign Ministry, he has worked at the Republic of Korea Embassy in Brazil and Malaysia, and most recently was Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Singapore from 2010 to 2013. He has also served many roles in the United Nations, where he represented the Republic of Korea in many U.N. bodies. He has also served as President of the Security Council in 2014. Seoul Journal Executive editor Anthony Al-Jamie talked with Ambassador Joon about diplomacy, his experiences, and challenges that face our world today.

The TrickEye Museum in Hongdae recently had 60% of their artwork revamped and I, along with some friends, was invited out to have some fun and see what they had to offer. Visitors can step into the exhibits and are invited to touch and photograph the artwork to see how the 2D paintings become 3D optical illusions while becoming part of the artwork themselves. The floors, ceilings and walls have been painted with vibrant colors, and arrows are placed on the floor where the photographer should stand to get the full effect on camera, allowing them to capture these “trick of the eye” techniques.